Digital badges are an alternative method for credentialing and recognition, which is important because learning and skill acquisition happen everywhere. Badges allow learners to travel widely different routes, and collect artifacts of learning as they go. Learners can gather badges from a wide range of issuers to illustrate skills and achievements that may not be captured in traditional methods, such as transcripts and resumes. In addition to augmenting traditional credentialing methods, this type of recognition can be used to motivate people where rules and requirements are not as effective.

What is a badge?

A badge is an image with embedded metadata. The metadata is what gives badges their credibility. The issuing institution is permanently associated with the badge, and the badge can be linked to the criteria for award and/or evidence of the work completed to earn the badge. Once the badge has been awarded, the identity of the earner is added to the metadata, so people cannot claim badges that have not been legitimately issued.

Mozilla has developed an open source platform that allows a single individual to display badges from multiple independent sources. Badges can be displayed through the Open Badge Backpack, but they can also be shared across personal Websites or blogs, and social networking channels.

The Open Badge Backpack is an authorized storage space that allows badge earners to store and organize their badges. The earner creates collections for the badges and is able to share them accordingly. That way, academic or employment skill badges can be separated from gaming or personal interest badges.

Why am I getting an email message from team@achievery.com?

Our badges are being hosted in the cloud. Achievery provides a platform and manages all the administrative functions of issuing badges.